Sage has announced an affiliate program for Sage One its online low-cost accounting program. The program is designed to enlist accountants and resellers in marketing the product that was introduced in the United States in May.

The company has detailed planned enhancements, including integration with online payments and the ability to import transactions directly from users' bank accounts. Next year, it will also get a social media oriented contact management capability.

Connie Certusi, EVP of small business solutions, said the partner program is more an affiliate program in which participants receive commissions. Certusi says affiliates get a $25 fee when customers sign up for Sage One and 80 percent of the first month's subscription, but not receive any further fees from a sale.

The company plans to build more features for accountants, including collaboration features. The comany conducted in insider program for accountants to get feedback on what they believe their customers might want. Certusi said Sage is going to ad accounts payable and expense management features.

Sage One is going to be handled in multiple channels. It will be introduced into retail in the fall in the United States and probably next year in Canada. The product is also being handled by banks and associations, along with resellers and accountants who choose to participate.

Sage One is designed for companies with up to nine employees. Certusi said it is possible that it could be developed to serve large companies but there is nothing immediately planned for such a push upmarket. Payroll capabilities will also be added. However, Certusi said they were not available initially because surveys showed payroll is not critical to businesses of this size. As user size grow, payroll will become a necessity, she said.

Bob Scott has provided information to the tax and accounting community since 1991, first as technology editor of Accounting Today, and from 1997 through 2009 as editor of its sister publication, Accounting Technology. He is known throughout the industry for his depth of knowledge and for his high journalistic standards. Scott has made frequent appearances as a speaker, moderator and panelist and events serving tax and accounting professionals. He has a strong background in computer journalism as an editor with two former trade publications, Computer+Software News and MIS Week and spent several years with weekly and daily newspapers in Morris County New Jersey prior to that. A graduate of Indiana University with a degree in journalism, Bob is a native of Madison, Ind